Post holder



Dec. 1924- 1,521,374

G. G. KESLINGER, JR

POST HOLDER Filed July 2'7, 1923 EEEEE E Patented Dec. 30, 1924.

UNITED STATES GEORGE G. KESLINGER, JR., OF OSWEGO, ILLINOIS.

POST HOLDER.

Application filed July 27, 1923.

T 0 all whom 2'25 may concern.

Be it known that I, GEORGE G. KEsLrNGEn, J12, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Oswego, in the county of Kendall and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Post Holder; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

In driving metal fence posts it has been the custom for one person to hold the fence post by hand while another person drives the post into the ground with a sledge hammer. This method is dangerous to the person holding the fence post in that it often happens that the hammer is misdirected o-r slips resulting in serious injury to the hand or arm of the person holding the post. Due to the vibrating of metal fence posts when being driven, it is rather hard on the hand gripping the post and causes blisters and callouses.

To obviate the above mentioned defects in the old method of driving metal fence posts this invention relates more particular ly to an improved metal fence post holder adapted to have one end thereof slidably engaged on a metal fence post while the other end of the holder is held by a person to steady and hold the metal fence post in a proper position during the driving of the same by another person. Danger of striking the hand or arm of the. person holding the fence post is thus eliminated and the fence post may be readily adjusted by means of the handle.

It is an object of this invention to provide a holder for engaging and holding metal fence posts to facilitate driving thereof, without danger of injury to the person holding the fence posts.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a metal fence post holder wherein a handle member is adapted to have interchangeable plates removably secured thereto, said plates having openings therein corresponding to the cross-section of the metal fence posts which are to be held.

It is an important object of the invention to provide a fence post holder of simple and inexpensive construction adapted to have any one of a plurality of plates secured on an apertured holder plate, said plates each Serial No. 654,058.

having an opening of different configuration therein so that metal fence posts of different cross-section may be readily held in place by the holder for driving.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and accompanying drawings.

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a post holder embodying the principles of this invention and illustrated in engagement on a metal fence post of T-cross-section.

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the post holder.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section thereof taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4; is a top plan view of the post holder having a plate secured thereon provided with an angle opening for engagement on metal fence posts of angle crosssection.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 indicates the ground into which a metal fence post 2 of T cross-section is to be driven. The metal fencepost 2 is held in proper position for driving by means of an improved fence post holder of this invention.

The fence post holder comprises a handle 3 made of wood or other suitable material and provided at one end thereof with a longitudinal slit or recess 4 into which the shank 5 of a metal holder plate 6 projects. The holder plate 6 is provided with a circular opening 7 surrounded by a plurality of apertures disposed ninety degrees apart. The shank 5 of the plate holder is rigidly secured in the slit end of the handle 8 by rivets 8.

Seated on the holder plate 6 is a plate 9 having a plurality of apertures 10 therein adapted to register with the apertures in the holder plate. Retaining screw bolts 11 are engaged through the registering apertures of the plates 6 and 9 to rigidly hold the latter plate in position for use.

The plate 9 is provided With a T slot 12 which is disposed over the holder plate opening 7 and is adapted to fit over a metal fence post 2 of T cross-section. The plate 9 is also provided with a notch 13 which opens into the T slot and is provided for the purpose of permitting the plate to pass over projections which are sometimes formed at spaced intervals on metal fence posts for the purpose of attaching the fence wires.

Figure 4 illustrates the 'post' holder equipped with a plate '14 having an angle slot 15 and a communicating notch 16 therein forthe purpose of engaging over fence posts of angle cross-section. 7

While only removable plates have been illustrated having T slots and angle slots therein it will of'course be understood that a plurality of plates may be provided for use with the handle and holder plate'with each removable plate having a post slot therein of a differentlshape or configuration for use in engaging over and holding metal fence :posts having a cross-section correspondingto the shape of the respective plate slot. 7 I

WVhen a post holder is useda plate is selected having a slot therein corresponding to the shape of the cross-section of the 7 'metal fence posts which are to be held and driven into the ground. The selected plate is securedto one side of the holder platey6 by bolts 11 or vother suitable 7 times metal fence posts are provided with small spaced projections to Which the fence means. The metal fence post 2 is then set in position and the upper end of the fence post is projected through the opening 7 and through the plate slot 12 when the post holder is engaged over the post. The post holder plate is adapted to slide on the fence post and by means of the handle I 3 the fence post, 2 is held in proper position during the driving of the same. Some wires are secured after the fence posts have been driven into the ground Itis for this reason that the notch 13 is pro-- vided in the plate 9.

The apertures 10 are provided in the plate 9 and in the plate holder 6 spacedninety degrees apart so that the plate 9 may be secured in place on the platev holder with the slot 12 in any desired position with respect to the position of the handle. 7

When a person purchases a fence post holder of the type herein described it will only be necessary to purchase one handle and select only one removable plate having a slot corresponding to the cross-secti'onof the metal, fence posts which are to be driven." It will thus be noted that if another fence 'isyto be built having fence posts of a different cross-section that it will only be necessary to purchase another plate for use on theold handle section,

[I am aware that many changes may be made, and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention; and I therefor do not, purpose limiting the patent granted hereon, other-i Wise than necessitated by the prior art. 7

I claim my invention:

'A fence post holder, comprising a handle and an apertured holder plate -.adapted removably to receive and retain changeable plates apertured to conform to the configuration of the posts to be held, each of said plates adapted to be fixed to a side face of said holder plate with its interaperture registering with the aperture in said holder plate.

In. testimony whereof I have hereunto ,eno-nen e. KnsLiNeER, JR. 

